Lockheed Martin agrees to build F-16 fighter jets in India for IAF

Lockheed Martin has agreed to jointly build F-16 fighter planes equipped with new-generation electronics in India with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd, both companies said on Monday.

The fighters are of the Block 70 type, “the newest and most technologically advanced F-16 ever”, they said.

“The F-16 Block 70 is ideally suited to meet the Indian Air Force's single-engine fighter needs and this unmatched US-Indian industry partnership directly supports India 's initiative to develop private aerospace and defense manufacturing capacity in India ,” said the statement, released on the Paris air show's opening day.

The Indian air force does not currently use F-16s, but industry experts say that local production would be a strong argument in favour of the US plane against its rivals, including French company Dassault's Rafale, in future procurement decisions.